Closter shul honors its music director
Temple Beth El invites the community to a special Shabbat Unplugged Band service on Friday, February 9, at 7:30 p.m., when it will honor Jim Rensink, its music director.
The special evening will begin with a congregational dinner at 6:30. The service, led by Rabbi David S. Widzer and student cantor Julie Staple, also features congregants and clarinetist Benjamin Baron.
James Rensink, a world renowned musician, has performed in more than 25 countries and each of the 50 United States, playing with many of the world’s best known artists. He has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and is one of the only artists ever to be heard at Lincoln Center as a leading baritone, pianist, composer, and conductor. He was chosen as the classical artist for the dedication of the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., on its 10th anniversary. Recently, he sang the “Mozart Requiem” with members of the Vienna Philharmonic, had his arrangements premiered in Vienna with the Pitten Classics festival, sang “Scarpia” in Tosca, and played “Rhapsody in Blue” with the New York Wind Symphony.
Mr. Rensink curtailed his worldwide travels to raise his triplet sons, Nate, Jake, and Alex; they are the only set of triplets ever to be admitted to the Juilliard School Pre-College Division. They all went on to study at McGill University in Montreal with principal brass players in the Montreal Symphony. Mr. Rensink has appeared in solo recital with each of his sons at Lincoln Center.
For more information, go to www.tbenv.org.
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